A very interesting article in the ST regarding the possible move of F&R Distilling from their industrial setting in the Near Southside out to a forgotten golf course in an increasingly revitalizing southeast Fort Worth.

It will be interesting to see where the neighborhood opinion ends up on this. It is certainly a departure of sorts for F&R who look to be attempting to attract distillery tourists who could inject a ton of money into the area.

.....regarding the possible move of F&R Distilling from their industrial setting in the Near Southside out to a forgotten golf course in an increasingly revitalizing southeast Fort Worth...... It is certainly a departure of sorts for F&R who look to be attempting to attract distillery tourists who could inject a ton of money into the area.

Wow, an encouraging and impact fill shot to the morale of a part of the city which must be revitalized. Fort Worth will truly be a greater city when the negative perceptions of areas east of the I-35 concrete curtain are overcome.

I love the area. I grew up near Rolling Hills (attended Glencrest MS) and still have many relatives who live near the golf course and I hate the idea. There are still many really nice homes in this neighborhood and I'd like to see something that compliments the area versus what I feel is a give up.

If you've been to any small distillery in Scotland, then you know exactly what they are trying to do. They aren't big industrial things, rather they are typically in pastoral settings with lots of land, and many low warehouses around the property storing the aging product.

@RD Milhollin - The VAC is not a big enough lot. The property is adjacent to two elementary schools (GC Clarke and Our Lady of Victory). And that is my 'hood. If that happened I would personally stand in front of the crews.

I'm not morally opposed to any distillery; in fact, I would love to drink local spirits. But I understand the opposition - Glen Garden has a big place in local and golf history as Ben Hogan's course.

However, the beauty of Southeast Fort Worth needs to be seen by the rest of the city, and if a distillery is going to bring real revitalization, that is a good thing.

If I were going to move in there, I'd consider making part of the land a distillery and remodeling 9 holes and package a distillery tour with a round of golf on the course. (Or maybe even fit the distillery in with the full 18 holes).

If I were going to move in there, I'd consider making part of the land a distillery and remodeling 9 holes and package a distillery tour with a round of golf on the course. (Or maybe even fit the distillery in with the full 18 holes).

The text of the petition from F&R indicates that keeping some parts of the course as functional is part of the plans.

Apparently the NIMBY folks would prefer another Wal-Mart of perhaps a trailer park.

This is a great case study on the importance of reaching out to neighborhood leaders very early on in any project that is likely to be controversial, especially if that neighborhood or surrounding area has a history of disenfranchisement.

Channel 4 News at 6 stated that the meeting will probably go past midnight. I was down there for a few minutes, but as soon as I walked into the Council Chamber, I was told to go to the overflow room (Pre-Council Meeting Room). I was supposed to meet some people from Historic Fort Worth to speak on the Stockyards issue, but I didn't get a chance to see if they were in the chamber. In the overflow, it was already standing room only, so I went out to the atrium to text HFW people to see if they were even in the building. Overflow filled up, then the atrium filled up and we were asked to go to the Basement Conference Room. I finally decided that I was only going to speak, if necessary. I deemed it not necessary, and now I'm at home watching it on my computer.

The City Council has just voted 7-2 in favor of changing the zoning on Glen Garden Country Club to allow the distillery to move there. The case started around 8 PM and it took about 2 hours to get to the vote. The Stockyards issue is yet to be discussed.

I was really not expecting the vote to be quite that lopsided (understanding full well that minds were likely made up ahead of time).

There is now a major challenge put forth to the new owner/distiller and Council to go out of their way to reach out to people in the neighborhood (and other key stakeholders) to calm their concerns snd make them feel involved in the property/course's future.

.... a major challenge put forth to the new owner/distiller and Council to go out of their way to reach out to people in the neighborhood (and other key stakeholders) to calm their concerns snd make them feel involved in the property/course's future.

What are their concerns? Is the distillery any worse than Miller Brewery? Is it on equal footing to the brewery?

"I feel like it will bring a lot of attention to the city. It will bring a lot of tourists in, a lot of people who want to see the venue, and it will help showcase that area out there,” Price said. “They wanted economic development. It is great economic development.”

She could have said East Fort Worth, Rolling Hills, the Cobb Park area, or any other descriptor. I'm sure residents didn't appreciate being referred to in this way.

I wouldn't like the mayor of my city to call my part town "that area down there" or something like that.

She could have used a better descriptor, or the writer could have cut the quote off at 'that area'. I'm sure that small quote from the article would work much better in the context of the whole conversation.

It has been two years the last public move on this project, approved over the objections of surrounding neighbors. The owners are planning to move the entrance off of Glen Garden Drive and onto Mitchell, addressing some of the traffic concerns. Good to see the project is moving forward.